30 THE MISTLETOE PEST IN THE SOUTHWEST. 



worthy for their vigorous and symmetrical growth and also for the 

 fact that they have made an incomparably more rapid growth than 

 certain specimens of the same kind of trees less favorably planted 

 on the adjacent campus. Moreover, they are and have always been 

 practically free from mistletoe. The pest has never gained a damag- 

 ing hold upon these trees. Their freedom from it and their vigorous 

 status otherwise are due to the exercise of a reasonable amount of 

 intelligent caretaking which began with their being well planted in 

 the first place. 



It would be a misrepresentation of public sentiment to say that 

 there is any lack of appreciation of trees or that careful attention is 

 not given them; but it is fairly just to say that this appreciation and 

 care are scarcely proportional to the large measure which trees con- 

 tribute to human comfort and contentment and to the long time 

 required to bring them to the stature where they do so contribute. 

 Viewed from this aspect, all the minute details of care and treatment 

 implied in the foregoing suggestions become fully justified. It 

 would be rational, furthermore, to inquire whether, in view of the 

 great value of the individual ornamental tree, it would not be worth 

 while to abandon the custom of grubbing up the trees and setting 

 them out like posts in favor of the more laborious and expensive 

 but ultimately more profitable way of lifting each tree with its ball 

 of earth and setting it in a well-prepared place with the least possible 

 disturbance of its roots or mutilation of its crown. Even very small 

 saplings thus carefully transplanted will eventually outstrip the very 

 much larger transplanted " posts". 



ORGANIZED EFFORT IN THE CARE OF TREES. 



The specific problem of the eradication or control of mistletoe, as 

 well as the broader one of selection and care of shade and ornamental 

 trees, is of the kind to be taken up by some organization devoted 

 to civic improvement. A well-organized, well-informed, and well- 

 directed public sentiment would speedily solve these problems. The 

 public schools may be made active allies of the movement in behalf of 

 the care of trees, both in receiving and in disseminating information, 

 and in otherwise arousing an enthusiastic spirit. City and county 

 officials may by special enactment be authorized to include in 

 their supervision the care of trees in public parks and along streets 

 and highwa}^. The individual owner may be led to feel a larger 

 responsibility for the welfare of his trees, both for the benefit they 

 bring him and for the relation they sustain to the welfare of the 

 community at large. 



166 



